First Folio Presents 'Halloween in the Haunted Castle' Fundraiser Event, 10/31

First Folio Theatre will offer a speciAl Halloween fundraising performances of The Castle of Otranto at the historic Mayslake mansion October 31 that will include a post-show cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception with members of the cast, as well as a silent auction.

The holiday performance builds on a Halloween performance tradition begun with 2006's production of The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe.

"First Folio is a great place to celebrate Halloween for those who are too old to trick-or-treat but still searching for fun," said Alison Vesely, who in addition to running the theatre with husband David Rice, is the Director for The Castle of Otranto. "We appreciated the enthusiasm shown by our audiences last year and are overjoyed to be able to continue this annual celebration."

New this year is a silent auction which includes a number of unique items. Some of the more intriguing items include a gourmet soufflé dinner prepared by Artistic Director Alison C. Vesely, a chance to have British actor Nick Sandys record your voicemail message, and a special selection of music CD's chosen by the First Folio artistic associates. The capstone of the auction, however, is the opportunity to bid on a walk-on role in next February's production of Jeeves in Bloom. The winner of this item will not only appear in a Saturday evening performance, but will also get his/her own cast t-shirt and a special photo with the cast of the show.

The Halloween performance for The Castle of Otranto is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $50 each, and the proceeds from the shows will be used to support production costs for First Folio's next show, Jeeves in Bloom. Individual tickets and season subscriptions can be purchased online at www.firstfolio.org or by calling 630-986-8067.

The Castle of Otranto runs through November 1, kicking-off the theatre's "Season of Invention." The season also includes P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves in Bloom, the world premier of Will Rogers: An American Original, and Twelfth Night as the annual "Shakespeare Under the Stars" outdoor performance.

The "Season of Invention" follows a 2008-2009 season in which First Folio attracted more than 8,500 audience members and garnered 4 Jeff nominations for First Folio's production of A Moon for the Misbegotten - both personal bests for the Oak Brook theatre known for delivering Chicago-quality performances at a picturesque suburban location.

All First Folio performances take place on the grounds of the Mayslake Peabody Estate in DuPage County. Mayslake Hall is a 30-room Tudor Revival style mansion originally built by coAl Baron Francis S. Peabody and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Located at 31st St. and Rt. 83 in Oak Brook. For more information visit www.firstfolio.org.

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